Jake

Burger

Burger’s first two-homer game since mid-April was a big one, as he took Ian Seymour deep in both the second and fourth innings. He also came around after the walk, making this the first time this year that he’s scored three runs. He’s at .239/.305/.433 with 25 homers and 82 RBI as he tries to help the Rangers win the AL West and works to ensure that the team will want to bring him back for 2027. It’ll probably cost around $6 million to retain him in arbitration.

Burger doubled in the second inning to put runners on second and third with no outs. Both runs would score as the Rangers took a lead they wouldn’t give back. Burger has 12 RBI in his last 18 games despite a .238 average. He’s hitting .238 with a .728 OPS and 78 RBI this year.

Burger’s home run was his 23rd of the season. He hit a solo shot off Anthony Kay in the second inning. Burger has now hit home runs in back-to-back games and has four home runs in his last 10 games. He’s hitting .236 with a .731 OPS and 76 RBI this year.

Burger was hit on the back of his hand in the third inning. He stayed in to run and played another inning on defense, but he was replaced by Nicky Lopez after that.

The 428-foot blast was Burger’s 20th homer of the year and upped his total to 71 RBI. Still, he needs a strong finish here to ensure that the Rangers go forward with him at first base next year. He’s hitting .234/.295/.413, giving him approximately a 102 OPS+. That’s also his mark from the last three years combined.

Burger has been in there at first base for every other game this week, so it looks like they’re just trying to give him a breather. Joc Pederson will cover first base while Corey Seager functions as the team’s designated hitter, with Nicky Lopez starting at shortstop and batting seventh for the Rangers against Angels’ right-hander Walbert Urena.

The Rangers took the lead on a Brandon Nimmo RBI single in the 10th inning. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Burger smashed a two-run single to put the Rangers up 4-1. These were the first RBI he’s had in August. He’s hitting .237 with a .713 OPS and 68 RBI.

Pederson will make his fourth appearance at the cold corner with starting first baseman Jake Burger taking a seat against Mariners righty Bryan Woo. The 34-year-old is basically a power-only fantasy contributor at this stage of his career, but he’s supplied a resectable 17 big flies in 309 plate appearances this season.

Burger blasted his 18th homer of the season off Bryce Miller in the fourth inning to put the Rangers up 3-1, and singled in the sixth inning to drive home Brandon Nimmo for his third RBI on the night. He’s only slashing .175/.224/.381 this month, but Burger’s power makes him capable of big nights like this even if he is in a slump. He’s hit safely in five of his last six games, so hopefully he’s on the verge of digging himself out of this hole.

Burger delivered the decisive blow in this game with a three-run home run in the seventh inning that stretched the Rangers’ lead out to four runs. He chipped in an RBI groundout in the first as well and has quietly been a solid run producer in the first half with 16 home runs and 58 RBI with a .244 batting average.